KUALA LUMPUR: A special unit will be set up to deal with 3R (race, religion and royalty) issues raised during the coming six state elections and Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election, says Fahmi Fadzil.
"There is a need to set up a unit to ensure that during the entire duration of the state elections including the Kuala Terengganu by-election, no parties will take the opportunity to draw political support by abusing issues related to 3R.
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"We do not want to see episodes of disunity caused by narrow racial sentiments or politicians resorting to speeches deemed religiously extreme or belittling the royal institution or inciting the people to disrespect it," the Communications and Digital Minister told reporters after the national-level Maal Hijrah celebration on Wednesday (July 19).
He said the decision to set up the unit follows a meeting on Tuesday (July 18) with Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain, his deputy Comm Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay, representatives from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and social media platform operators such as TikTok.
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Lately, there have been strident calls against the use of 3R issues particularly by politicians in light of the coming state elections.
On Tuesday (July 18), caretaker Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor claimed trial at the Sessions Courts in Selangor on two counts under the Sedition Act 1948 over a political speech in Selayang on July 11.
He was accused of uttering words that could incite disloyalty against the rulers.
Also on Tuesday (July 18), Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the government will hold discussions with relevant parties on Friday (July 21) to assess existing laws and look into the need for a new law to deal with 3R matters.
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The Election Commission (EC) has fixed July 29 for nominations and Aug 12 as polling day for the state elections in Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.
The by-election for the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat will be held concurrently with the polls for six states.
The seat fell vacant after the Terengganu Election Court on June 27 cancelled the victory of Datuk Ahmad Amzad Hashim of PAS, which had chosen not to appeal the decision but to go for a by-election.
Meanwhile, Fahmi said the unit to monitor 3R issues for the duration of the polls will be coordinated between his ministry, MCMC, Bukit Aman and the social media platform providers.
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He said the move is not against academic discussions of issues related to 3R but more on incidents which could cause disunity and social unrest.
"What we are trying to prevent are those (speeches) that cause disunity.
"We have freedom of expression but we have no freedom to slander or pit the rakyat against one another by resorting to 3R issues," he said.
He added that the relevant authorities will take action against those who flout the laws to ensure public safety and security.
